Unending Shalom
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
What do you want for Christmas? Take a moment to share with your neighbor.
Today we begin a short two week series called Give First God. In the midst of the Christmas season, we can be so focused on getting that we don’t truly understand the motive for giving. I know I am guilty of this. So in order to help reorient our hearts, we are going to focus not on giving but on God’s generosity - a generosity displayed to us through the birth of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus came not during day, but during night. You see, the Christmas story is not just a juxtaposition of God becoming man but dark and light.
Today we are going to be in Isaiah 8,9, turn with me to Isaiah 8:19-22
19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
Winter is here. Darkness has dawned. It now gets dark at like 4PM. Winter is a season in which darkness reigns the sky.
This is not only true in our climate, it is also true in our culture and circumstance. Sometimes it is as if darkness reigns. But what does that mean?
Poetic language can feel so abstract at times.
v 22 “Thrust into utter darkness”
What is darkness?
Physics: absence of light.
In the Bible: It is a symbol for God’s judgment, the absence of God, living in a way that is godless (works of darkness)
What was the cause for this?
Isaiah 8:19,20 they didn’t consult God.
If you want to avoid darkness - choose your counsel wisely.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Allow God’s word to guide you.
FIRST SIGN OF GOD’s generosity: HIS WORD.
20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
His word is only a gift if we are obedient to it, otherwise we experience darkness.
22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
This is how life can feel at times.
You may wonder is there hope or reason for joy?
Isaiah gives us the answer
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
History lesson:
Isaiah was written about 750 years before Jesus arrived (20-30yrs before their captivity)
He was a prophet called to speak to Israel (northern kingdom) warned them of coming judgment via Assyria 722BC
Now what is significant about this list in vs1, is this is the route of Assyrian attack. And so the region in which darkness came, would be the region in which the Light of the world comes.
Image of tribes allotments: Cabal, Ted, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, J.P. Moreland, and Doug Powell. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.
Image of Assyrian invasion along Way of the Sea: Brisco, Thomas V. Holman Bible Atlas. Holman Reference. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
Image of Galilee: Brisco, Thomas V. Holman Bible Atlas. Holman Reference. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
Jesus comes into our darkness and brings light.
9:1 is a prophecy about Jesus
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
Jesus fulfilled more than 300 prophecies during his first coming.
The passage then goes on to say:
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
Isaiah fortells of vicotry to come, he fortells of a time in which there will be no need for war and armor.
You may be wondering, is this relevant to ME?
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
US
THE SECOND SIGN OF GOD”S GENEROSITY: a son is GIVEN - God is GENEROUS - gave HIS ONLY SON
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This generous God gives to us HIMSELF. JESUS IS THE GIFT.
WHO HE IS is the GIFT
Wonderful Counselor - He is both wonderful and counselor and his counsel is wonderful. Maybe you’re in a season of darkness b/c its a season of discernment and discovery, your life feels like there’s lots of unkowns. What job, what spouse, what major, who you are, God is the light in the darkness b/c He is a wonderful counselor.
Mighty God - maybe your in darkness b/c life feels overwhelming, with finals, or family dynamics, and you’re in need of strength - God is MIGHTY
Everlasting Father - maybe your in darkness b/c you don’t have a dad, or you long for the fatherly love you deserve - God is a loving Father
Prince of Peace - maybe you’re in a season of darkness b/c peace is absent - He is the prince of peace and His reign establishes peace. You cannot know peace apart from God.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Gospel of the Kingdom - Christ’s Reign establishes peace
Have you ever noticed how rulership brings with it not only quanitative metrics but qualitative as well
we tend to vote on leaders based on qualitative things - how it’ll effect the economy, but the reign of a ruler also brings with it a perticular kind of kingdom.
Israel was familiar with how rulership affected peace. To be
To be under the reign of Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Rome, is radically diff than reign of David.
Is your life under the reign of Christ?
Do you have peace? if not, you need Christ.
Third sign of God’s generosity:
Peace of Christ is UNENDING
each of the major empires lasted a moment in time — but Christ’s reign endures all of time.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
At the end of this prophetic promise, in verse 7, Isaiah tells us “The Zeal of the LORD will accomplish this.”
In the original Hebrew, the word Zeal literally means glowing fire.
God’s love for you is an unending fire - his generosity an unending light.
Jesus is the gift, which aspect of Him are you in need of in this season?
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Christmas Sermon Outline
Christmas Sermon Outline
Title: “The King We’ve Always Needed”
Title: “The King We’ve Always Needed”
Isaiah 9:6–7
INTRO:
INTRO:
Open with the theme of longing:
Every generation looks for someone to fix what’s broken—leaders, heroes, systems.
Describe the context of Isaiah’s prophecy: Judah in darkness, under threat, unsure about the future.
Big Idea: Christmas isn’t merely the birth of a child—it’s the arrival of a world-changing King.
I. His Coming Brings Light into Our Darkness
I. His Coming Brings Light into Our Darkness
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” (Isaiah 9:2)
Christmas happened in a world of political chaos, sin, and pain, not peace and perfection.
God’s answer to darkness isn’t escape—but presence.
Illustration: Light doesn’t remove the night instantly, but it makes a path visible.
Application: You don’t need to have peace to come to Jesus; He is peace in our darkness.
II. The Gift Is a Person
II. The Gift Is a Person
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6)
Not advice but a Savior. Not principles but a Person.
The child is born (His humanity), the Son is given (His deity).
He didn’t come to give us a seasonal feeling, but eternal rescue.
Application: What we most need isn’t a change in circumstances; we need this Child.
III. His Names Reveal What He Came to Do
III. His Names Reveal What He Came to Do
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Briefly unpack each name with practical hope:
Wonderful Counselor
Wonderful Counselor
He knows our deepest needs and guides us perfectly.
In a world of confusion, He offers wisdom that works.
Mighty God
Mighty God
Not just a wise teacher, but almighty Savior.
Power to deliver us from sin, addiction, fear, death.
Everlasting Father
Everlasting Father
Not “God the Father,” but a King who fathers His people tenderly.
Perfect protection, provision, and compassion.
Prince of Peace
Prince of Peace
Not just peace of mind, but peace with God, which creates peace within and between others.
Application: Who do you most need Jesus to be right now? He already is.
IV. His Kingdom Will Never Fail
IV. His Kingdom Will Never Fail
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end…”
“…the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
Earthly kingdoms are temporary; His reign grows and never stops.
The guarantee isn’t human effort but God’s passion.
God is more committed to saving us than we are to being saved.
Application: Don’t just celebrate His birth—surrender to His rule. Let His kingdom grow in your heart.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Jesus didn’t come to make Christmas sentimental;
He came to make the world new.
Ask: Will you let this King rule your life?
Finish with an invitation to trust the child who is King.
Optional Ending Ideas
Optional Ending Ideas
Light candle illustration: One flame spreads across darkness.
Prayer of surrender: “Jesus, rule in my heart and home.”
Communion emphasis: The King who came to die so we could live.
